Episode 51 — Understand Command and Control and Living Off the Land Stealth
This episode explores how attackers maintain a persistent connection to compromised systems while evading traditional detection through command and control (C2) channels and living off the land (LotL) techniques. We define command and control as the remote communication infrastructure used by an adversary to direct infected hosts and receive data. A critical professional concept is why attackers utilize standard protocols like HTTP or DNS to hide their traffic within legitimate business communication. We also define living off the land as the abuse of built-in system tools, such as PowerShell or administrative scripts, to carry out malicious tasks without installing new files that would trigger security software. You will learn to recognize detection clues like unusual beaconing patterns, odd parent-child process chains, and outbound connections to unfamiliar domains. Implementing egress controls and DNS monitoring are discussed as high-yield quick wins for disrupting these stealthy communication paths. Produced by BareMetalCyber.com, where you’ll find more cyber audio courses, books, and information to strengthen your educational path. Also, if you want to stay up to date with the latest news, visit DailyCyber.News for a newsletter you can use, and a daily podcast you can commute with.
